Belleville-Nutley football rivalry: the best games

With just 15 days remaining until the annual Belleville-Nutley football game, it's a good time to look back, as well as ahead, into a storied gridiron rivalry.

Over the next few weeks, we'll look back at some of the best games over the past 45 years, as well as all the statistics and historical info you'll need to get ready for this year's contest.

Nutley has dominated the rivalry of late, leading the all-time season series, 50-19-4. The rivalry began in 1924 and has been played continuously since 1944. Since 1984, the game has been decidedly in Nutley's favor, with the Raiders holding a 24-4-2 mark over that time span.

This week, we'll take a look back at the top 10 games in this series, from a Belleville perspective, spanning the last 45 years. Before the countdown, let's also remember the 1962 game, when Belleville won a decisive 33-12 contest. This was a strange game, since the usual week three match up was postponed until the Saturday before Thanksgiving, because of a hurricane that afflicted the local area.

Rich Luzzi and John Senesky would pace the Bellboys that day, as the team concluded an 8-1 season with an eight game winning streak.

Now, the countdown, from this reporter's standpoint.

No. 10-1971, Belleville 7, Nutley 6: Joe Lotriglio scored the Bellboys' only touchdown in the first half and Belleville hung on for a 7-6 victory at the Nutley Oval.

No. 9-1983. Belleville 12, Nutley 6: After a generation of playing this rivalry on the third week of the season, it shifted to week five of the 1982 campaign, then on to opening weekend in 1983. The Bucs were in the midst of a dominant run in the rivalry. having won five straight from 1978-1982. In this game, Belleville opened a 12-0 lead into the fourth quarter before the Raiders cut the lead in half. Belleville went to a 12-6 victory. Nutley would actually have a better overall season in '83, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in school history, under second year head coach Pete LaBarbiera. The Bucs had a solid season, finishing 6-3, but missed the playoffs.

This win by Belleville in '83 marked the last time, to date, that the Bucs have beaten the Raiders at the Oval.

No. 8-1980, Belleville 13, Nutley 7: The Bucs were the heavy favorites in the first-ever night game between the two rivals, but the Raiders played really well in this week three contest. The game was tied at seven in the fourth quarter before Belleville quarterback John Melillo ran 45 yards for the winning score. The '80 Bucs actually started slowly that season, but ended up with a nine game winning streak and a berth in the state sectional final at Giants Stadium. Many fans will recall that this game actually got the Bucs off and running.

No. 7-1975, Belleville 0, Nutley 0 (tie): A tremendous week three game in a steady downpour at the Oval ended up in a scoreless tie. Belleville had the better scoring opportunities, including what appeared to be a punt return for a touchdown by Anthony 'Chipper' Biafore, but the score was called back because of a clipping penalty. Nutley had a late chance to score, but the Bellboys defense held. This would be the only scoreless tie in the series' history.

No. 6-1990. Belleville 21, Nutley 6: The Bucs' offensive line would dominate this game, as Belleville snapped a three game losing streak to Nutley, at Doc Ellis Field. Carmen Spina was named Belleville's MVP. The big play occurred in the first quarter, when Belleville blocked a punt and Billy Salvatore returned it for a touchdown. The '90 Bucs would finish the season at 6-3. No Belleville team has won six games since.

No. 5-1996, Belleville 20, Nutley 0: In John Senesky's final game as head coach after a record 20 seasons at the helm, Belleville played a solid game and beat Nutley for the first time in six years. The number 20 had a lot of meaning here, in that it was Senesky's 20th season, with 20 seniors, in a 20-0 win.

No. 4-1986, Belleville 27, Nutley 16: The Bucs beat Nutley for the first time, ever, on Thanksgiving, as Jeff Spilsbury and Jim Dunphy paced the way to an impressive win. The Bucs led 27-0 at one point before Nutley scored two fourth quarter touchdowns. The win put a nice finish on a 6-3 season, that included six wins in the team's last seven games.

No. 3-2008. Belleville 22, Nutley 12: No question, a huge win for a team that hadn't beaten the Raiders in 12 years. A solid Belleville offense was paced by quarterback Nicky Herrmann, as Belleville won on a sloppy turf at Doc Ellis, to finish 5-4 in the regular season.

No. 2-1992. Belleville 7, Nutley 7 (tie): For a long time, this was my number one game in the series, but I'll bump it to second here. Nutley was en route to a state championship in '92, with a 7-1-1 record, when the teams met on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, while a hard-nosed Belleville team was 3-5, but had played much better than the record would indicate. Belleville and Nutley both had chances to win it late with a field goal, but both kicks were wide. John Alvarado and Mike Citarella stood out on defense for the Bucs.

No. 1-1978, Belleville 31, Nutley 0: There was so much symbolism in this game, as the new-look Bucs dominated from the beginning to beat Nutley for the first time in 12 years at home. Quarterback Ed Aulisi and running back Mike Nicosia paced the offense while team captains Angelo Santinelli and Joe D'Agostino paced the defense. Belleville would finish 6-3 in '78, marking the beginning of seven straight seasons of outstanding football at BHS.

Belleville-Nutley football rivalry: the best games

With just 15 days remaining until the annual Belleville-Nutley football game, it's a good time to look back, as well as ahead, into a storied gridiron rivalry.

Over the next few weeks, we'll look back at some of the best games over the past 45 years, as well as all the statistics and historical info you'll need to get ready for this year's contest.

Nutley has dominated the rivalry of late, leading the all-time season series, 50-19-4. The rivalry began in 1924 and has been played continuously since 1944. Since 1984, the game has been decidedly in Nutley's favor, with the Raiders holding a 24-4-2 mark over that time span.

This week, we'll take a look back at the top 10 games in this series, from a Belleville perspective, spanning the last 45 years. Before the countdown, let's also remember the 1962 game, when Belleville won a decisive 33-12 contest. This was a strange game, since the usual week three match up was postponed until the Saturday before Thanksgiving, because of a hurricane that afflicted the local area.

Rich Luzzi and John Senesky would pace the Bellboys that day, as the team concluded an 8-1 season with an eight game winning streak.

Now, the countdown, from this reporter's standpoint.

No. 10-1971, Belleville 7, Nutley 6: Joe Lotriglio scored the Bellboys' only touchdown in the first half and Belleville hung on for a 7-6 victory at the Nutley Oval.

No. 9-1983. Belleville 12, Nutley 6: After a generation of playing this rivalry on the third week of the season, it shifted to week five of the 1982 campaign, then on to opening weekend in 1983. The Bucs were in the midst of a dominant run in the rivalry. having won five straight from 1978-1982. In this game, Belleville opened a 12-0 lead into the fourth quarter before the Raiders cut the lead in half. Belleville went to a 12-6 victory. Nutley would actually have a better overall season in '83, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in school history, under second year head coach Pete LaBarbiera. The Bucs had a solid season, finishing 6-3, but missed the playoffs.

This win by Belleville in '83 marked the last time, to date, that the Bucs have beaten the Raiders at the Oval.

No. 8-1980, Belleville 13, Nutley 7: The Bucs were the heavy favorites in the first-ever night game between the two rivals, but the Raiders played really well in this week three contest. The game was tied at seven in the fourth quarter before Belleville quarterback John Melillo ran 45 yards for the winning score. The '80 Bucs actually started slowly that season, but ended up with a nine game winning streak and a berth in the state sectional final at Giants Stadium. Many fans will recall that this game actually got the Bucs off and running.

No. 7-1975, Belleville 0, Nutley 0 (tie): A tremendous week three game in a steady downpour at the Oval ended up in a scoreless tie. Belleville had the better scoring opportunities, including what appeared to be a punt return for a touchdown by Anthony 'Chipper' Biafore, but the score was called back because of a clipping penalty. Nutley had a late chance to score, but the Bellboys defense held. This would be the only scoreless tie in the series' history.

No. 6-1990. Belleville 21, Nutley 6: The Bucs' offensive line would dominate this game, as Belleville snapped a three game losing streak to Nutley, at Doc Ellis Field. Carmen Spina was named Belleville's MVP. The big play occurred in the first quarter, when Belleville blocked a punt and Billy Salvatore returned it for a touchdown. The '90 Bucs would finish the season at 6-3. No Belleville team has won six games since.

No. 5-1996, Belleville 20, Nutley 0: In John Senesky's final game as head coach after a record 20 seasons at the helm, Belleville played a solid game and beat Nutley for the first time in six years. The number 20 had a lot of meaning here, in that it was Senesky's 20th season, with 20 seniors, in a 20-0 win.

No. 4-1986, Belleville 27, Nutley 16: The Bucs beat Nutley for the first time, ever, on Thanksgiving, as Jeff Spilsbury and Jim Dunphy paced the way to an impressive win. The Bucs led 27-0 at one point before Nutley scored two fourth quarter touchdowns. The win put a nice finish on a 6-3 season, that included six wins in the team's last seven games.

No. 3-2008. Belleville 22, Nutley 12: No question, a huge win for a team that hadn't beaten the Raiders in 12 years. A solid Belleville offense was paced by quarterback Nicky Herrmann, as Belleville won on a sloppy turf at Doc Ellis, to finish 5-4 in the regular season.

No. 2-1992. Belleville 7, Nutley 7 (tie): For a long time, this was my number one game in the series, but I'll bump it to second here. Nutley was en route to a state championship in '92, with a 7-1-1 record, when the teams met on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, while a hard-nosed Belleville team was 3-5, but had played much better than the record would indicate. Belleville and Nutley both had chances to win it late with a field goal, but both kicks were wide. John Alvarado and Mike Citarella stood out on defense for the Bucs.

No. 1-1978, Belleville 31, Nutley 0: There was so much symbolism in this game, as the new-look Bucs dominated from the beginning to beat Nutley for the first time in 12 years at home. Quarterback Ed Aulisi and running back Mike Nicosia paced the offense while team captains Angelo Santinelli and Joe D'Agostino paced the defense. Belleville would finish 6-3 in '78, marking the beginning of seven straight seasons of outstanding football at BHS.